Air-current governor



(No Model.)

S. P. SMITH. AIR CURRENT GOVERNOR.

No. 505,238. Patented Sept. 19, 1893.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OF ICE.

SOLOMON P. SMITH, OF WATERFORD, NElV YORK.

AIR-CURRENT GOVERNOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 505,238, datedSeptember 19, 1893. Application filed December 24;, 1892. Serial No.156,226- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SoLoMoN P. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Waterford, in the county of Saratoga and State of New York,haveinventeda new and useful Improvement in Air-Current Governors, ofwhich the following, together with the accompanying drawings, is aspecification sufficiently full, clear, and exact to enable personsskilled in the art to which this invention appertains to make and usethe same.

The object of my present invention is to afford a practical, efficientand desirable mechanism of improved construction, for the automaticcontrolor regulation of air currents in the inlet-ducts, registers,passages or airconduits of ventilating or heating apparatus. Also, toprovide, in mechanism for the purpose specified, simple and efficientmeans to prevent slamming of the valves.

These objects I attain by the mechanism shown in the drawings andexplained in the following detailed description; theparticnlar subjectmatter claimed being hereinafter definitely specified.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section longitudinally of theair-conduit or fine, showing my improved current governor. Fig. 2 is afront view. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section at the position of line wasFig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of my invention as made with aplurality of pendulous dual-leaved valves.

Referring to parts, A denotes the air-inlet, conduit, register orpassage through which the air current to be regulated flows, thedirection of the current being indicated by arrows on the drawings. Saidconduit is preferably of rectangular cross section and is provided witha hinging strip 1) fixed transversely across the top of the passage.

O indicates a swing valve composed of two leaves or plates 0 and cdisposed transversely to the air passage and in oppositely inclinedplanes, meeting at their upper edges at an angle and sloping downward atthe front and back in the form shown. Said valve is attached along theapex ridge or meeting angle, to the top of the conduit or its hingingstrip 1) by suitable hinges or flexible connections d in a manner topermit the valve to have free back and forth pendulous action; the twoas to be independently adjusted, and the two parts supported from andfixed in relation to each other by one or more pairs of adjustablebrackets or slotted arms E attached to the leaves, [see Fig. 1] andhaving a clamp screw or device, as at e, by means of which the saidleaves can be adjusted to different degrees of angularity or retained infixed relation in planes more or less inclined to each other; therebyadapting the mechanism to the requirements of different situations, andfor responding to greater or less current forces.

F indicates a barrier-,fender or upright stationary guard disposedtransversely across the bottom of theair-conduit at Ya central positionbeneath the valve 0, and extending upward sufficiently far to interceptthe are or line of motion on which the outer edge of the valve leavesswing. At the rear of the hinging joint, and at a distance therefromsubstantially corresponding to the width of the leaf c ,,there is fixeda depending plate 7; inclosing a space or pocket I corresponding to thearea of the rear leaf 0 of the valve and into which said leaf swingswhen the valve is forced backward, thereby affording an air cushionagainst said leaf which arrests the backward movement andpreventsslamming of the valve against the barrier F when influenced byasudden gust of wind.

When my invention is applied in large dues or air conduits a singlependulous dual-'leaved valve is best employed, as in Figs. 1 to 3; andwhen applied in registers, short inlets, or positions in which economyof space is essential or desirable the invention is best made withaplurality of narrow dual-leaved valves disposed one above the other, as inFig. 4, at such distances apart that the closing leaf of the highervalve will swing to the apex or central hingcapacity of the barrier orfender for the higher 4 valve; the stationary barrier F being disposedbeneath the series and the operation being efiected in same manner as inthe case of one dual leaved valve. When more than one dual-leaved valveis employed the several valves are best connected by a rod or link m sothat all will move in unison.

In the operation, under normal conditions the air enters the conduitnninterruptedly through the space between the oppositely inclined leaves0' o and barrier F; but any sudden or strong current acts to lift theleaf .0 and depress the leaf 0' of the valve, thus causing the leaf 0'to approach the barrier F reducing or closing the passage proportionallyto the increased force of the current. In case of a sudden gust thatswings the valve backward with violence, shock is prevented and theslamming of the valve obviated by the cushioning of the air against theleaf 0 in the inclosure I. [See dotted lines Fig. 1.] In reflex actionsthe rear leaf 0 serves to close the'passage by its approach to thebarrier F. Consequently the action is steadier and there occurs noexcessive swinging of the valve, the tendency being to oppose by theopposite action of the two leaves any movement beyond that required tocontrol and equalize the current of air passing through the apparatus.

I claim as myinvention herein, to be secured by Letters Patent 1. Thevalve composed of two oppositely inclined leaves meeting at an angle attheir up per edges, and supported in fixed relation to each other, saidvalve suspended at its apex by a hinging connection transversely withinthe air-passage to have free back and forth swinging action, incombination with the aircondnit, and an upright guard or fender disposedtransversely across the passage centrall y beneath said dual-leavedvalve, the top of said guard terminating adjacent to the line of motionor are on which the lower edge of the valve leaf swings, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, of the conduit or airinlet having the fender orguard disposed across the bottom of the passage, the pendulousdouble-leaved valve having its respective leaves disposed in separateintersecting planes hinged to each other and pivotally suspended attheir adjacent edges to swing freely within the air-conduit, and anadjustable brace connecting the two leaves of the valve to each otherand adapted for adjusting the degree of angularity between the planes ofsaid valve-leaves, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the air-conduit, the pendulous dual-leavedvalve, and the upright fender beneath said valve; of an inclosure inrear of said valve adapted to afford an air cushion on the rear leaf toarrest the motion of said valve before the front leaf strikes saidupright fender, as the valve is forced backward, substantially as setforth.

4. In combination, with the air-inlet'passages or register, a pluralityof transversely disposed dual-leaved angular valves respectivelysuspended by hinging attachment at their apex, one above another, toswing freely when acted upon by the air currents, and disposed in suchrelation as to respectively close one against another, the fender orguard beneath the lower valve, and a link connecting the several valvesfor united action, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 19th day of December, A. D. 1892.

SOLOMON P. SMITH.

Witnesses:

GHAs. H. BURLEIGH, ELLA P. BLENUS.

